Quote:
Originally Posted by hagatha /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Greetings,
I'm an old rocker... and I have several hundred albums, that have been well taken care of... I still play one now and again with my original Technics Turntable.
I would like to get some advice for getting a good reproduction in digital. I've read a little about USB turntables... but its the CODEC and file formats that confuse me...
What kind of hardware is needed?
File size is not really an issue with storage being so cheap...
Thanks
hagatha
SA5000's
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I do make some ripping of LPs which can not be found in CD redbook or otherwise...
In my experience, it only makes sense if :
1. Your LPs are in more than a good condition (not used too much, clean)
2. You can get hold of a high-end TT & cartridge & Phono amp i.e. maximum analogue reproduction quality possible. (USB TTs are mostly of mediocre quality and can be used to record in red book (CD) nominal quality only i.e 16bit /41.6 kHz, apart from the unsatisfactory output , etc. )
3. You have a lot of time and patience on your hands to do it.
Everything else is relatively easy (ok, there is some additional investment necessary, taken you already have a comp you will need a good external sound card and some solid recording & editing software)
What I use is :
Nottingham Audio Hyperspace TT, DECCA MM, BEDINI Q series phono stage.
MacPro & EDIROL (ROLAND) FA 66 external firewire interface (this can do up to 24bit / 192 kHz), Soundtrack Pro 3 software.
The ripping (recording) I do is in min 24bit/96kHz in AIFF . After cleaning the recording from clicks and pops (this is the most time consuming part of the process - this is why point. 1 - see above- is so important)). I convert AIFF into ALAC (apple lossless) or Flac. Voila - that's it.
Note: In my experience firewire interfaces work better than USB. (also I do not recommend the use of internal sound cards)
If you use a Windows machine, only the recording software would be different - the process itself should be identical . (you connect your PHONO PRE-AMP RCA outs to the sound card/interface RCA ins, set the signal level in your recording software and make the recording).
The last ripp I did was "Ben Webster meets Oscar Petersson (1959 recording)" - I did not removed the pops and clicks - the music and the original recording is soo good that I do not "hear" them...
BUT before you do a rip, you might want to do yourself a favour and save a lot of time. There are many very well done rips already on the internet in HiRez format by nice people (since you mention you're a rocker - you will be well served) . You only need to know how to obtain them...
PM me if you want some more insight as to how.
WL